Search

The picture below shows a car parked almost completely across the pavement. This would not currently classed as obstruction by our council or the local police because no one is actually being obstructed at this very moment and would use the fact that the woman seen walking away from us with her shopping was able to get past (just) as evidence for the lack of obstruction.

The fact that an elderly person who uses a wheelchair lives a few doors down is considered irrelevant because he is not trying to pass at this moment. The fact that the person may not even bother trying to get down the pavement any more because they knows that it is impossible is not considered relevant. To add insult to injury, if someone passing the vehicle accidentally scratched the vehicle with a bag, buggy or wheelchair then they would have caused an offense against the owner of the car!

Not an obstruction

The only reason that it might be classed as obstruction in this case is because the person may have had to have ‘trespass’ onto private property to get past. A police officer I have just been talking to about this thought that this would indeed be evidence of obstruction.

3 Responses to “Nope, that’s not an obstruction!”

Sorry but i don’t agree – the car on the pavement appears (from this angle) to be blocking the silver car from leaving the property. That is illegal. However, to block and stop you from getting onto your property is not. That’s according to Ipswich Parking Services – who are in any case very reluctant to do anything about obstruction and blocked dropped kerbs. Your comments would be appreciated.

You’re an idiot, the rule states the occupier of the premises (or those he authorises) can park adjacent to his dropped kerb, this then helps all his neighbors as his 2nd car or visitor doesn’t use another valuable space in the street, the reason for the exception, it doesn’t however allow him to park on the kerb and block pedestrians, you imbecile. As for wheelchair users thats another story, their access to road is elswhere so if the kerb has been lowered by homeowner, its not for wheelchair use, he still can’t park on the kerb though. However if all one side of street park on pavement in order for traffic to get through best u keep ur mouth shut or the entire left/right side of street may get double yellows

Pedestrians are discriminated against

"In contrast to the changes made to every town and city to ease motor transport, walking has been made ever more unpleasant. Pedestrians have been treated with contempt. In a myriad of ways when we walk we are treated with less respect than when we drive". (quote for a cross-party parliamentary select committee report on walking in towns from 2001).

This blog documents how this discrimination works, what laws underpin it and what people are doing to counter it. Please take action and share your experiences in the comments section, on twitter or join our facebook group. Add photos to the Flickr pool. All photographs cc-by-sa 3.0 unless otherwise stated or obvious from the source.